Multiple sliding-panel merchandise receptacle for a merchandise vending machine



Sept. 12, 1967 ,'w z 3,341,269 7 MULTIPLE SLIDING-PANEL MERCHANDISE RECEPTACLE FOR A. MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Filed March 11, 1966 2 Shets-Sheet, 1

v- 42 73 2F |G.9 INVENTOR. NORM/7N G. WE/TZMAA/ Sept. 12, 1967 N. s. WEITZMAN 3,341,269 MULTIPLE SLIDING-PANEL MERCHANDISE RECEPTACLE FOR A MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Filed March 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet :3

\ x v F 75 r f :4 5 2 A, 2' E 42 "g9 52 32' 32 N l 7 j 33 42 26 53 429 G. 6

70 22 FIG 4 L INVENTOR. R Nae/VAN 6 We? 7'ZMHN United States Patent M 3,341,269 MULTIPLE SLIDING-PANEL MERCHANDISE RE- CEPTACLE FOR A MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE Norman G. Weitzman, Arnold Provisor, 16401 Knapp St., Sepulveda, Calif. 91343 Filed Mar. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 533,551 14 Claims. (Cl. 312205) This application comprises a continuation-in-part of my co-pending patent application, Serial No. 460,687, filed on the 2nd day of June, 1965, and, therefore, generally speaking, can be said to relate to the merchandise vending machine art and, more particularly, to a merchandise receptacle or cabinet for such a merchandise vending machine which is of a multiple panel type which may assume any of several different forms. For example, in one form thereof, each panel is usually, although not necessarily'in all forms of the invention, made of a transparent material (such as glass, or the like) and is of a very simple, substantially flat construction mounted by rigid, and usually metallic, upstanding framework means, thus providing a merchandise receptable of a very simple construction and having a great variety of advantages as set forth in great detail in my above-mentioned co-pending patent application. However, it should be clearly noted that said panels need not necessarily be made of transparent material and need not necessarily be made of substantially flat construction and at least one of said panels may have an effective volume-expanding, outwardly projecting, inwardcavity-defining intermediate wall portion connected to top, bottom, and side edges slidably mountable with respect to said upstanding framework means and effectively defining an auxiliary interior volume-enlarging cavity therewithin which communicates laterally with the hollow interior of the complete merchandise receptacle in a manner effectively comprising a side-positioned volumeincreasing portion thereof. Of course, it should be understood that, in this latter form of the invention more than one of the panel members may be of the volume-enlarging type just referred to, and any one of said panels, whether of the volume-enlarging type or of the flat type (which may be used interchangeably or in various combinations), may be of either transparent or non-transparent material, as desired, although usually at least one panel will be of transparent material and will usually be located adjacent to the position of a prospective purchaser of an article of merchandise from the vending machine so that said prospective purchaser can view the merchandise articles within the merchandise receptacle.

It should be noted that all of the various advantages and various possible modifications and variations of the multiple panel merchandise receptacle of my abovementioned co-pending patent application are to be considered as equally applicable with respect to the present invention, comprising an improvement thereof and a continuationin-part application thereof, as fully as if all of said advantages and variations were again described in full hereinafter in this present specification. They are not again repeated in this present specification since it is thought unnecessary and redundant in the light of the full disclosure thereof set forth in my above-mentioned co-pending parent patent application.

However, it will be noted that one extremely important additional advantage is present in the form of the invention primarily comprising the subject matter of this present application wherein at least one of the removable panels is of the above-mentioned volume-expanding type, and comprises the fact that the effective interior volume of the merchandise receptacle can be readily expanded in accordance with the current demand for the merchan- 3,341,269 Patented Sept. 12, 1967 dise articles carried thereby and adapted to be dispensed by the corresponding merchandise vending machine. In other words, it will frequently be found that one particular location, or one particular type of merchandise article, sells much more rapidly than other types of merchandise articles or the same types of merchandise articles at a different location and, therefore, in order to make it unnecessary for a vending machine operator to make more frequent trips to such a vending machine than to others along his route for replenishment of a depleted supply of merchandise articles, it is advantageous to effectively expand the interior volume of that particular merchandise vending machines merchandise receptacle so that the volume of merchandise articles contained within the enlarged merchandise receptacle will last until the next regular routine trip of the vending machine operator occurs. Indeed, sometimes where several different ,yending machines are mounted on the same vending machine stand, it will be found that it will be desirable to effectively enlarge the merchandise receptacle of one or more of the vending machines while leaving the merchandise receptacles of the other vending machines in their normal non-enlarged conditions so that the quantities of the various different types of merchandise articles in the various different merchandise receptacles will become depleted or exhausted at approximately the same time. In other words, under such conditions a vending machine operator, when making his regular routine call, will find that the merchandise supply in each of the vending machines has dropped to substantially the same low level or low volume condition when he arrives for merchandise article replenishment and coin removal servicing of the plurality of vending machines.

Under conditions such as outlined above, it may be desirable to only replace one of the flat panels with a corresponding one of the volume-enlarging panels since this may provide an adequate volume increase for the merchandise receptacle, or more enlarging panels may be employed to replace more of the fiat panels as needed.

On the other hand, where a single vending machine receives very heavy operation, it may be desirable to replace more than one of the flat panels, perhaps as many as three of the panels thereof and, in a very few cases, four of the panels thereof, with the volume-expanding or volume-increasing panels referred to above. Where all of the flat panels are so replaced, it will normally be found desirable to have at least one of the volume-expanding or volume-enlarging panels made of a transparent material and preferably positioned at the front of the machine so as to provide for convenient viewing of the merchandise articles within the volume-expanding merchandise receptacle by a prospective purchaser thereof.

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel apparatus of the character referred to herein having any or all of the advantages referred to herein, generically and/or specifically, and individually or in combination, and which is of extremely simple, inexpensive construction adapted for ready mass manufacture at a very low cost whereby to be conducive to widespread use thereof.

Further objects are implicit in the'detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but not specifically limiting, the present invention), and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detailed description which follows hereinafter.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, one exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the hereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying two sheets of drawings and is described in detail hereinafter, although it should be clearly noted that in FIG. 10 a transparent form of the volume-expanding panel is specifically illustrated in combination with three other volume-expanding panels, and it should be noted that FIG. 9 illustrates an arrangement of three such volumeexpanding panels in combination with a flat nonvolume-expanding panel. However, these are very minor variations of the major exemplary form of the invention illustrated in detail throughout the other figures.

FIG. 1 is a reduced-size exterior, three-dimensional, pictorial view illustrating one typical exemplary form of merchandise vending machine carrying one particular exemplary form of the multiple sliding-panel merchandise receptacle of the present invention at the top thereof and carrying thereover and in normally closing relationship with respect to the otherwise open top of said merchandise receptacle, a permanent-type closure cap or cover means which is normally locked thereover after the merchandise receptacle has been filled with any desired type of merchandise articles which are to be controllably vended by the merchandise vending machine in response to the insertion of the proper amount of money, in the form of a coin, into the coin-receiving apparatus, followed by the subsequent operation of the dispensing means, which is made possible by said receipt of said proper amount of money. However, the invention is not limited to the particular type of merchandise vending machine illustrated but may be employed with a great variety of different types of merchandising vending machines.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional, pictorial view illustrating the volume-expanding panel shown mounted at the back of the merchandise receptacle of FIG. 1, but illustrated all by itself in FIG. 2 and in a position as seen from a vantage point looking angularly downwardly and sidewardly into the open interior thereof.

FIG. 3 is a reduced-size top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 having the three flat panels and the volumeexpanding outwardly projecting panel illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, partly-broken-away sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3 and illustrates the detail of the volume-expanding panel and its top and bottom mounting with respect to the rear portion of the upstanding framework means.

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary, partlybroken-away sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 55 of FIG. 1 and clearly illustrates the detailed structure of the upstanding framework means and the slidable mounting of the three flat panel members with respect to the front and two sides thereof and further clearly illustrates the slidable mounting of the fragmentarily shown volume-expanding panel member at the rear of said upstanding framework means -all of said elements being drawn to a greatly enlarged scale as compared to the other views and being shown fragmentarily and partly broken away for drawing spacesaving reasons.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the permanent-type top closure cover removed therefrom in order to show the three upper edges of the three flat glass panel members of the merchandise receptacle positioned at the front and sides thereof and in order to further show the upper edge of the rear-positioned volume-enlarging or volumeexpanding panel memher, a portion of the top fastening rim or ring carried at the top of the upstanding framework means, the foldaway handle carried by said top fastening rim, which is shown in its folded-away, non-use position. This view also clearly shows the upper ends of the four corner post members of the upstanding framework means which removably mount the three flat panel members and the volume-expanding panel member. However, it should be clearly noted that, while the permanent-type closure cap or cover member or means has been removed from the merchandise receptacle, as shown in FIG. 6, a temporary auxiliary service cap or cover means has been temporarily positioned across the otherwise open top of the merchandise receptacle and the top fastening rim and is temporarily held in covering relationship thereover by the foldaway carrying handlein particular by the inwardly alignedly directed retaining projections of said carrying handle which pivotally mount it with respect to the top fastening rim.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken substantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 7-7 of FIG. 1 and illustrates one exemplary type of key-operated fastening and locking means.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken substantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 88 of FIG. 1 and clearly illustrates the removable mounting of the lower removable cash box or coin receptacle, comprising the major portion of the lower part of the vending machine, which stores coins received by the coin-receiving mechanism, as a result of multiple merchandise article vending operations, until all of said coins are removed by a vending machine operator during one of his regular routine vending machine servicing calls.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly-brokenaway view with vertically centrally intermediate portions removed for drawing space-saving reasons, taken substantially along the plane indicated by the arrows 99 of FIG. 1 and only illustrates the right side of the structure. In other words, this sectional view does not extend completely across the apparatus on the plane indicated by the arrows 99 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a greatly-reduced-size top plan view generally similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating an arrangement wherein the flat panel members at both sides and the rear of the vending machine have been replaced by novel volumeexpanding panel means of the type illustrated individually in FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is another view similar to FIGS. 3 and 10, but illustrates another slightly different arrangement wherein all four of the panel members are of the volume-expanding type and wherein the front one thereof is illustrated as specifically being of a transparent type so that merchandise articles within the merchandise receptacle can be readily viewed by a prospective purchaser thereof.

One exemplary form of the novel multiple slidingpanel merchandise receptacle of the present invention is generally indicated at 22 and is adapted to be carried by a merchandise vending machine, one exemplary and nonspecifically limiting type of which is generally indicated at 24, as is best shown in FIG. 1.

It will be noted that the exemplary type of merchandise receptacle 22 illustrated in the figures is substantially rectangular as seen in top plan view, or in horizontal section at any selected horizontal plane thereacross, when all four of the slidably removable panel members, such as the three designated at 26 and shown at the front and sides of the mechandise receptacle 22, are of the substantially flat planar type. However, whenever any one of said panel members is of the volume-expanded type, such as is generally indicated at 26' at the rear of the merchandise receptacle 22, the top plan view configuration thereof, individually, is of trapezoidal and nearly rectangular configuration extended rearwardly from the rectangular top plan view configuration of the central portion of the merchandise receptacle 22, as is perhaps best shown in FIG. 3.

However, while the exemplary form is of the configuration just described, it is to be understood that this is exemplary only and that the novel multiple sliding-panel merchandise receptacle of the present invention may assume a variety of different shapes and/or sizes and the number of the panels and/or the individual shapes thereof and the relative distribution of the fiat-type panels, such as shown at 26 in FIG. 1, or the volume-expanding type panels, such as shown at 26' in FIG. 1, may all be modified substantially within the broad scope of the present invention and all such arrangements are intended to be included and comprehended herein.

In the exemplary first arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, the merchandise receptacle 22 is shown as having three similar transparent panels, which are preferably, but not necessarily, made of glass, and each of which is generally designated by the reference numeral 26 as referred to hereinbefore, and each of which is of similar, substantially flat, planar, rectangular configuration, and because of the transparent nature thereof, may be said to comprise window panel members. However, it should be clearly noted that while all three of said window panel members 26 are illustrated as being transparent, the invention is not specifically so limited and various of said panel members may be non-transparent in certain forms of the invention, although normally at least one of said panel members 26 is of a transparent nature so that a prospective purchaser of a merchandise article may view same through the transparent window panel member 26.

Each of said window panel members 26 has vertically spaced, substantially parallel top and bottom edges, such as the exemplary ones shown at 28 and 30, respectively, at the broken-away portions of FIG. 1, with each of said window panel members 26 having horizontally spaced substantially parallel side edges 32 adapted to be effectively vertically slidably received within each corresponding facing pair of vertically directed receiving channel portions 34 of each corresponding laterally spaced adjacent pair of the four corner post members or means, each of which is generally designated at 36, of intermediate upstanding framework means, generally designated at 38, and comprising all four of said upstanding corner post members or means 36.

The exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 19 also includes the previously-mentioned rear panel member 26', which is shown as having vertically spaced substantially parallel top and bottom edges 28' and 30, and which is also shown as having horizontally spaced substantially parallel side edges 32 adapted to be effectively vertically slidably received within the facing rear-positioned pair of vertically directed receiving channel portions 34 of the two rear laterally spaced corner post members 3-6 of the intermediate upstanding framework means 38.

It should be noted that said rear volume-expanding panel 26', in addition to said top and bottom edges 28' and 30 and said parallel side edges 32', has an effective volume-expanding outwardly projecting intermediate wall portion 33 which interiorly defines an inward-facing cavity, generally designated at 35, which is in communication with the hollow interior region 37 of the complete merchandise receptacle 22 in a manner such as to effectively expand or increase the volume of same.

The arrangement is such that opposite side edges 32 of each of the three flat window panel members 26 and the opposite side edges 32' of the volume-expanding rearpositioned panel member 26' are vertically slidably mounted within corresponding vertical transversely spaced facing pairs of said receiving channel portions 34 of the corner post members 36 of the framework means 38 so that any one of said panel members 36 or 26- can be vertically slidably moved upwardly completely out of engagement with the corresponding adjacent pair of said corner post members or means 36 (of course, this is only possible after the permanent-type closure or cap means 40 has been removed) and, when desired, any of said three panel members 26 or the volume-expanding panel member 26 can be slidably reengaged between the corresponding adjacent pair of corner post members or means 36 of said upstanding framework means 38 by merely inserting the opposite side edges 32 (or 32) thereof into the two corresponding facing channel portions 34 and then sliding the complete panel member 26 or 26' downwardly into fully engaged relationship, such as is clearly shown in FIG. 1.

Of course, it should be noted that, in the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, each of said window panel side edges 32, and also each of the top and bottom edges 28 and 30 thereof, is effectively provided with compressible (usually elastomeric and usually continuously connected) edge gasket means 42 therealong and completely around the edge of said three window panel members 26 so as to provide an effective seal when the complete multiple slidingpanel merchandise receptacle 22 is in fully assembled closed relationship. Also, it should be noted that while the top, bottom, and side edges 28, 30', and 32', respectively, of the volume-expanding panel member 26', are not shown in the figures of the drawing as being provided with edge gasket means such as that shown at 42 as carried by the corresponding edges of the three flat panel members 26, this is merely for purposes of variety in illustrating the invention and it should be clearly understood that said edges 28', 30', and/ or 32 of the volume-expanding panel member 26' may be similarly provided with such gasket means, if desired.

It should be noted that each of the gasket means 42 has an inner lip portion 44 and an outer lip portion 46, with the inner lip portion 44 extending toward the center of the corresponding panel member 26 to a greater extent than the outer lip portion 46, whereby to facilitate outward draining, rather than inward draining, of any possible moisture or liquid, such as condensation moisture, or the like, which might deposit on the fully assembled multiple sliding-panel merchandise receptacle 22, thus acting to protect merchandise adapted to be contained within the hollow interior 37 thereof from any such moisture which will always tend to drain outwardly.

It should be noted that, in the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, the intermediate upstanding framework means generally designated at 38, is normally adapted to be effectively coupled with respect to, and effectively carried by, a bottom hopper means, such as is generally designated at 48 and which may be of any conventional merchandise vending type and which is normally removable from the lower or base portion 50 of the conventional merchandise vending machine generally designated at 24. In other words, the complete multiple sliding-panel merchandise receptacle 22 is removable, along with said bottom hopper 48, from the base or bottom portion 50 of the conventional mer chandise vending machine 24 whenever the permanenttype closure cap or cover means 40 is unfastened from the top of the multiple sliding-panel merchandise receptacle 22 by inserting a key (not shown) into the key slot 52 of a fastening and locking means, generally designated at 54, so that a central tie rod 56 becomes effectively disengaged from the permanent-type closure cap or cover means 40.

The removal of said complete merchandise receptacle 22, including the bottom hopper means 48 and also an intermediate coupling adapter means, generally designated at 58, and which will be described hereinafter, is thus possible since said complete unit, which is sometimes referred to as the cabinet, is fastened with respect to the bottom portion 50 of the conventional merchandise vending machine 24 only by said central tie rod 56, which has a threaded bottom end 57 which passes centrally downwardly through an aperture 59 in said bottom hopper means 48 and then passes centrally down through the bottom portion 50 of the conventional vending machine 24 where said threaded bottom end 57 is threadedly fastened by a nut 61 to the threaded boss 63 centrally carried by a bottom or base wall 65. In other words, said central tie rod 56 ties all portions of the complete, fully assembled vending machine, including the multiple sliding-panel merchandise receptacle 22, together and the previously mentioned cabinet can be removed as a unit when the fastening and locking means 54 is unlocked from the threaded upper end 60 of the tie rod 56 by inserting the key into the key slot 52 and rotating same.

In connection with the above, it should be noted that the base portion 50 of the vending machine 24 has a false or upper bottom 67, which is centrally apertured at 69 and which is fastened to and is removable together with the complete base portion 50 of the vending machine 24 by merely lifting same upwardly away from the tie rod 56 and the base wall 65, which is fastened by the fastening means 71 to a supporting platform, such as is shown in phantom at 73 in FIG. 8 and which may comprise any suitable support for the vending machine 24. The removable vending machine base 50 and false bottom 67 attached thereto together effectively comprise what might be termed a removable cash box or coinstoring chamber, generally designated by the reference character C, which is adapted to receive coins from the coin-receiving mechanism, generally designated at 75, prior to each merchandise article dispensing operation, thus making it possible for a vending machine operator to remove all of the stored coins by merely unfastening the locking means 54 as previously described, removing the previously mentioned cabinet, and then removing the cash box or coin receiver C and tipping or inverting same so as to empty all of the previously stored coins into any convenient container, after which the cash box or coin receiver C can be replaced, the cabinet replaced, and the locking means 54 again lockedof course, after replacement of any necessary merchandise articles within the merchandise receptacle 22.

In connection with the fastening and locking means 54, it should be noted that the threaded upper end 60 of the tie rod 56' is adapted to be controllably threadedly engaged within the interior threaded bore 62 of the previously mentioned fastening and locking means, generally designated at 54, which comprises a cylindrical lower portion 64 rotatively received within the effectively cylindrical opening 66 in said top closure cover means 40 and adapted to be rotated therein in response to the insertion into the key slot 52 of a proper key (not shown) as previously mentioned. In other words, the upper portion 68 of said fastening and locking means '54 comprises a downwardly directed boss fixedly carried underneaththe permanenttype closure cap or closure means 40 and which, in effect, comprises the non-rotatable outside of a rotatable lock having a plurality of tumbler means therein carried by the cylindrical portion 64 which normally protrude outwardly into slots in the boss 68 and prevent rotation of the entire inner lock assembly 64 carried above, and rotatable with, the interiorly threaded lower portion or bore 62. In other words, only insertion of the proper key in the key slot 52 will allow rotation of the interiorly threaded lower portion 62 of the fastening and locking means 54 within the boss 68 which will, of course, allow threaded relative advancement or retraction thereof with respect to the exteriorly threaded upper end portion 60 of the central tie rod 56 whereby to either draw the permanent-type closure cover means 40 firmly downwardly against the top gasketed panel edge 28 (and edge 28) or to disengage same for removal of the top cover means 40.

In the exemplary form illustrated, the previously mentioned coupling adapter means 58 is effectively interposed between the bottom hopper means 48 and said upstanding framework means 38, whereby to produce effective coupling of said bottom hopper means 48 with respect to said upstanding framework means 38 and, in the exemplary form illustrated, said three structures, that is, the bottom hopper means 48, the intermediate coupling adapter means 58, and the upstanding framework means 38, are effectively vertically interconnected at each of the four corner portions thereof by four common threaded self-tapping fastener screw means, such as the exemplary one shown at 72 in FIG. 4, for example-it being understood that the other three are similar. Each of said screws 72 has a lower headed end positioned against a bottom surface of .an upper horizontal wall 73 of said bottom hopper means 48 and has its threaded portion extending upwardly through the intermediate coupling adapter means 58 and into engagement with the bottom of the framework means 38 by reason of self-tapping threaded engagement within a corresponding upwardly extending aperture 74 in the corresponding bottom end 76 of each of the four corner post members 36 of said upstanding framework means 38.

The previously mentioned top fastening rim or ring is generally designated by the reference numeral 70 and has a lower horizontally directed, substantially rectangular base portion 78 and an inwardly offset upstanding inner vertical wall portion 80. It will be noted that said top fastening rim and ring is provided with four substantially rectangularly spaced, corner-positioned fastening projections 82 extending outwardly therefrom into positions directly overlying the outer portions of the corresponding four top ends 84 of the four corner post members or means 36 and provided at said locations and junctions with four corresponding downwardly directed threaded selftapping screws 86, having their head ends positioned on the top surface of each of said corner-postioned fastening projections 82 of the top fastening rim 70 and each having its threaded shank portion extending downwardly into selftapping, interiorly threaded relationship within the corresponding hole 88 carried in the upper end 84 of the corresponding corner post member 36, thus firmly fastening the top fastening rim 70 at each of the four corners thereof to the four top ends 84 of the four corner post members 36.

It should be noted that the coupling adapter 58 and the fastening rim or ring 70 may, if desired, be provided with additional alignment and registration means for providing a very firm positive alignment and registration of the coupling adapter 58, the top fastening rim 70, and the intermediate four corner post members 36 so that no relative twisting or misalignment thereof is possible. Such alignment or registration means may be of any suitable type, one exemplary form of which is illustrated and described in gerater detail in my above-identified co-pending patent application and comprises upwardly and downwardly directed alignment and registration pins and corresponding receiving apertures. No further description thereof will be set forth herein in view of the obvious redundancy thereof in the light of the full and complete description thereof set forth in my above-mentioned copending patent application.

It should be noted that the coupling adapter means 58 is provided with four upwardly facing receiving trough portions, rectangularly positioned and extending along edge portions thereof as exemplified by the one shown at 90 in FIG. 9. Each of said four rectangularly arranged receiving trough portions 90 is so positioned as to be adapted for receiving and sealing engagement with respect to the corresponding bottom edge portion of the sealing gasket means 42 carried by the bottom edge 30 of the corresponding panel member 26 or for sealing engagement directly with the corresponding bottom edge portion 30 of the volume-expanding panel member 26, while at the same time the top portion thereof is in similar sealing engagement with respect to the underneath surface edge portion 92 of the permanent-type top closure cap or cover means 40 when it is firmly fastened on top of the multiple sliding panel merchandise receptacle 22 in the manner exteriorly shown in FIG. 1 and illutsrated in fragmentary detail in FIG. 4. This provides a positive compression seal at both the top and bottom edges of each panel member 26 (and/or 26) and, of course, the side edge portions thereof are also effectively sealed by reason of the firm engagement of side edge parts of the gasket 42 of each of the'three fiat panel members 26 and direct firm engagement thereof with the side edge parts 32' of the volumeexpanding panel member 26, within the corresponding receiving channels 34 of each pair of upstanding extruded post members 36.

It will be noted that each of said trough portions 90 comprises an inner upstanding lip member 94, a bottompositioned transverse portion 96, and an outer upstanding lip portion 98, and that said outer upstanding lip portion 98 terminates at a level below the termination level of the inner lip member 94 whereby to facilitate the previously mentioned outward condensation water draining action described hereinbefore in connection with the similar configuration of the gasket means 42.

The water protection feature just referred to is further enhanced by the provision of an anti-drip bead 99 formed at the bottom of the outer edge of the coupling adapter means 58, as is most clearly shown in FIGv 4, which acts to positively prevent the entry of any water or condensation moisture inwardly along the bottom surface of said coupling adapter 58 into the horizontal junction between said coupling adapter 58 and the conventional bottom hopper means 48.

In the exemplary form of the top fastening rim or ring means 70 illustrated, the inwardly offset upwardly directed vertical wall portion 80 thereof has opposite side parts (in the example illustrated, the two designated at 80) provided with horizontally aligned apertures 100, which rotatively mount the inwardly alignedly directed projections 102 of a bail or handle member, generally designated at 104, which in the exemplary form illustrated, is of generally rectangular configuration substantially corresponding to the shape of one-half of the top fastening rim or ring means 70, whereby to be adapted to lie on said half portion thereof when folded away into a horizontal plane, as is clearly shown in FIG. 6, wherein it will be noted that said bail or handle member 104 is shaped in substantially exact correspondence with the shape of the underlying part of the top fastening and retaining rim or ring means 70 and lies in a position thereon such as to allow the previously mentioned permanent-type closure cap or cover means 40 to be positioned thereover and to engage said rim or ring means 70 without being in any way interfered with by said folded-away bail or handle member 104. This relationship is probably best shown in fragmentary form in FIG. 4.

However, it will readily be understood that when the permanent-type closure cap or cover means 40 is removed by a serviceman, the bail or handle member 104 may be pivoted into an upstanding, operative, carrying position (not shown) to allow it to be used for facilitating the lifting and carrying of the complete cabinet comprising the merchandise receptacle 22, the coupling adapter 58, and the bottom hopper 48, for the purposes previously explained in detail. This may be done without mounting a temporary auxiliary cover across the open top of the merchandise receptacle 22 and the top fastening rim or ring 70, or it may be done after the mounting thereacross of such a temporary auxiliary closure cover means or cap for retention and protection purposes during the lifting, handling, and/or transporting of the merchandise receptacle 22.

, FIG. 6 shows such a temporary auxiliary resilient service cap or closure cover means mounted in the top closing relationship just referred to and generally designates same by the reference numeral 106, wherein it is shown as comprising a resilient panel member 108 having a single downwardly directed edge 110 at one side thereof adapted to be slipped over the corresponding upstanding inwardly offset single wall portion 80 and to then have the central portion of said resilient panel member 108 forcibly resiliently deflected downwardly between the other two upstanding wall portions 80' while the complete temporary cover 106 is offset toward the top edge of the drawing sheet as illustrated in FIG. 6 (which of course is only possible when the handle 104 is in the up position) so that a pair of horizontally aligned similar outwardly facing edge slots 112 formed in the central portion of said auxiliary closure cap 106 will be vertically aligned with the inwardly directed retaining projections 102 of the handle member 104 so that said forcible downward deflection of said central portion of the panel member 108 will be permitted by reason of the passing of said slots 112 downwardly past said inwardly directed projections 102 and into a position below the level thereof after which the complete auxiliary cover 106 may be slidably shifted from the previously mentioned offset position into a locking position such as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 where said edge slots 112 are no longer vertically aligned with said handle projections 102. This will, of course, positively resiliently retain .the temporary closure clap 106 over the top fastening rim 70 until the reverse action is performed for removal purposes.

The above action is made possible by reason of the resilient nature of the material of which the temporary cover 106 is made.

The above-mentioned retention of the temporary closure cap 106 over the top fastening rim 70 by the inwardly directed retaining projections 102 of the handle member 104 may be further facilitated and enhanced and rendered even more positive by the provision of an upwardly directed locking lip or flange 113 formed out of the thin sheet resilient material of the central portion of the panel 108 of the auxiliary cover 106 along similar side edges of the slots 112, which are most closely adjacent to the downwardly directed edge of said cover 106, thus providing an extremely positive type of locking action.

Incidentally, it should be noted that pivoting the handle 104 downwardly into the horizontal folded-away, non-use position engages the downwardly directed edge 110 of the temporary cover 106 in a locking manner which positively retains it in locked relationship. Also, it should be noted that in certain forms of the invention, the central portion of the panel 108 of the auxiliary cover 106 may have an aperture, as indicated in phantom at 114, to allow the vertical passage therethrough of the previously mentioned central tie rod member 56 and corresponding portions of the fastening and locking means 54, thus making it possible to leave the temporary cover 106 in place even when the permanent cover 40 is placed thereover and fastened by the fastening and locking means 54 to the upper end of the tie rod 56. This is an optional arrangement, and said hole 114 may be eliminated entirely, if desired. Of course, the temporary cover 106 will normally be of a type not having the phantom line hole 114 or having means for temporarily closing same, in the event that premium or prize article placement immediately inside of the panel members 26 or 26 is to be accomplished by removing same while the machine lies on its side or back, placing the prerninum or prize articles Within the machine and then replacing the removed panel member, since otherwise merchandise articles might tend to spill out of the merchandise vending machine through the hole 114 during such a premium or prize article positioning operation.

It should be noted that the temporary closure cap 106, the bail handle 104, the projections 102 thereof, the slots 112, and the locking lip or flange 113, are more fully disclosed, both with respect to the structure thereof and the operation thereof, in my hereinbefore-identified co-pending patent application and in the light thereof, it is believed to be redundant to again describe and illustrate same in any greater detail than has been done hereinbefore.

FIG. 10 merely illustrates a slight modification of the invention, not as to structure but as to the assembly thereof, wherein the merchandise receptacle 22 has three of the volume-expanding panel members 26' slidably removably carried at opposite sides and at the rear thereof, thus providing a much greater volumetric increase than in the case of the first form of the invention illustrated 1 1 in FIGS. l9. Otherwise the apparatus illustrated in FIG. is similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 of the first form of the invention, and no further detailed description thereof is thought necessary.

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10, but illustrates the removal of the fiat front panel member and the replacement thereof with another volume-expanding panel member 26', which, in the form illustrated in FIG. 11', is shown as being made of a transparent material so that a prospective purchaser of a merchandise article may view same through said transparent front volume-expanding panel member 26'. Otherwise the showing of FIG. 11 is similar to that of FIG. 10 and of the first exemplary form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 19 and no further detailed description thereof is thought necessary. However, in connection therewith it should be clearly understood that any or all of the various panel members may be transparent, translucent, or opaque, as desired, and they may be made of various suitable materials such as glass, plastic, or metal, depending on the characteristics desired.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A multiple sliding-panel volume-adjustable merchandise receptacle for a merchandise vending machine, comprising: a bottom hopper means; an intermediate upstanding framework means positioned above and effectively coupled with respect to said bottom hopper means and extending upwardly therefrom to a predetermined extent, said upstanding framework means comprising a plurality of upstanding, substantially similar, parallel spaced corner post members, each having a bottom end and a top end, each of said corner post members being provided with two angularly related receiving channel portions facing the corresponding receiving channel portion of the next laterally spacedly adjacent corner post member and being substantially parallel thereto; and a plurality of side panel members, each of substantially rectangular configuration as seen in front elevation, and each having vertically spaced substantially parallel top and bottom edges and horizontally spaced, substantially parallel side edges adapted to be effectively vertically slidably received within a corresponding and different facing pair of said vertically directed receiving channel portions of the corresponding laterally spacedly adjacent pair of said corner post members in closing relationship across the corresponding side of said framework means and controllably vertically slidably removable therefrom when desired, at least one of said plurality of side panel members having an effective volume-expanding, outwardly projecting, inward-cavity-defining intermediate wall portion integrally connected to said top, bottom, and side edges and effectively defining an auxiliary volume-enlarging cavity there within communicating with the hollow interior of the merchandise receptacle and effectively comprising a sidepositioned volume-increasing portion thereof.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a closure cover means provided with fastening and locking means for controllably removably fastening said closure cover means immediately above and in retaining relationship with respect to said top edges of said side panel members.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a closure cover means provided with fastening and locking means for controllably removably fastening said closure cover means immediately above and in effective downward biasing relationship with respect to said top edges of said side panel members for effectively forcing said panel members downwardly whereby to effectively seal top and bottom edges thereof.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a top fastening rim and ring of substantially the same shape, as seen in plan view, as that defined at a corresponding plurality of spaced locations by said top ends of said plurality of upstanding corner post members, said top fastening rim and ring being provided with a corresponding plurality of corner-positioned fastening projections extending outwardly therefrom into positions directly overlying and fastened to the corresponding top ends of said plurality of corner post members; and a closure cover means provided with fastening and locking means for controllably removably fastening said closure cover means immediately above and in effective downward biasing relationship with respect to said top edges of said side panel members for effectively forcing said side panel members downwardly whereby to effectively seal top and bottom edges thereof, with said closure cover means being fastened by said fastening and locking means in a predetermined overlying relationship with respect to said fastening rim and ring.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said edges of at least certain of said panel members are provided with compressible elastomeric edge gasket means, and including a closure cover means provided with fastening and locking means for controllably removably fastening said closure cover means immediately above and in downward biasing relationship with respect to top edge portions of said edge gasket means carried by corresponding top edge portions of at least certain ones of said panel members for effectively forcing said panel members downwardly whereby to effectively seal top and bottom edges thereof.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a top fastening rim and ring of substantially the same shape, as seen in plan view, as that defined at a corresponding plurality of spaced locations by said top ends of said plurality of upstanding corner post members, said top fastening rim and ring being provided with a corresponding plurality of corner-positioned fastening projections extending outwardly therefrom into positions directly overlying and fastened to the corresponding top ends of said plurality of corner post members, wherein said edges of at least certain of said panel members are provided with compressible elastomeric edge gasket means, and including a closure cover means provided with fastening and locking means for controllably removably fastening said closure cover means immediately above and in downward biasing relationship with respect to top edge portions of said edge gasket means carried by said top edge portions of at least certain ones of said side panel members for effectively forcing said panel members downwardly whereby to effectively seal top and bottom edges thereof, with said closure cover means being fastened by said fastening and locking means in a predetermined relationship with respect to and spaced above said fastening rim and ring.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including coupling adapter means effectively interposed between said bottom hopper means and said upstanding framework means whereby to effectively comprise a bottom portion of said upstanding framework means and to produce said effective coupling of said hopper means with respect to said upstanding framework means.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including coupling adapter means effectively interposed between said bottom hopper means and said upstanding framework means whereby to effectively comprise a bottom portion of said upstanding framework means and to produce said effective coupling of said hopper means with respect to said upstanding framework means, said coupling adapter means having a corresponding plurality of upwardly facing receiving trough portions positioned and arranged for effective receiving engagement with respect to corresponding bottom edges of the corresponding side panel members.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said edges of at least certain of said panel members are provided with compressible elastomeric edge gasket means, and including coupling adapter means effectively interposed between said bottom hopper means and said upstanding framework means whereby to effectively comprise a bottom portion of said upstanding framework means and to produce said effective coupling of said hopper means with respect to said upstanding framework means, said coupling adapter means having a corresponding plurality of upwardly facing receiving trough portions positioned and arranged for effectively receiving engagement with the edge gasket means carried by the corresponding bottom edges of the corresponding ones of said side panel members provided therewith, for positive compression sealing engagement therewith.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including coupling adapter means effectively interposed between said bottom hopper means and said upstanding framework means whereby to effectively comprise a bottom portion of said upstanding framework means and to produce said effective coupling of said hopper means with respect to said upstanding framework means, said coupling adapter means having a corresponding plurality of upwardly facing receiving trough portions positioned and arranged for effective receiving engagement with respect to corresponding bottom edges of the corresponding side panel members, each of said trough portions comprising an inner upstanding lip member, a bottom-positioned transverse portion, and an outer upstanding lip member terminating at a level below the termination level of said inner lip member.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including coupling adapter means effectively interposed between said bottom hopper means and said upstanding framework means whereby to effectively comprise a bottom portion of said upstanding framework means and to produce said effective coupling of said hopper means with respect to said upstanding framework means, and a plurality of threaded fastener means efiectively vertically interconnecting corner portions of said bottom hopper means, said intervening coupling adapter and said bottom ends of said corresponding corner post members of said upstanding framework means in a controllably disengageable manner.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a top fastening rim and ring of substantially the same shape, as seen in plan view, as that defined at a corresponding plurality of spaced locations by said top ends of said plurality of upstanding corner post members, said top fastening rim and ring being provided with a corresponding plurality of corner-positioned fastening projections extending outwardly therefrom into positions directly overlying and fastened to the corresponding top ends of said plurality of corner post members, coupling adapter means effectively interposed between said bottom hopper means and said upstanding framework means whereby to effectively comprise a bottom portion of said upstanding framework means and to produce said effective coupling of said hopper means with respect to said upstanding framework means, and a plurality of threaded fastener means effectively vertically interconnecting said cornerpositioned fastening projections of said fastening rim and ring to said corresponding top ends of said plurality of corner post members of said upstanding framework means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of side panel members is made of transparent material and, therefore, effectively comprises a window panel member.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a top fastening rim and ring of substantially the same shape, as seen in plan view, as that defined at a corresponding plurality of spaced locations by said top ends of said plurality of upstanding corner post members, said top fastening rim and ring being provided with a corresponding plurality of corner-positioned fastening projections extending outwardly therefrom into positions directly overlying and fastened to the corresponding top ends of said plurality of corner post members, coupling adapter means effectively interposed between said bottom hopper means and said upstanding framework means whereby to effectively comprise a bottom portion of said upstanding framework means and to produce said effective coupling of said hopper means with respect to said upstanding framework means, a plurality of threaded fastener means effectively vertically interconnecting corner portions of said bottom hopper means, said intervening coupling adapter and said bottom ends of said corresponding corner post members of said upstanding framework means in a controllably disengageable manner, and a plurality of threaded fastener means effectively vertically interconnecting said corner-positioned fastening projections of said fastening rim and ring to said corresponding top ends of said plurality of corner post members of said upstanding framework means.

No references cited.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

JAMES L. KOHNEN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MULTIPLE SLIDING-PANEL VOLUME-ADJUSTABLE MERCHANDISE RECEPTACLE FOR A MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINE, COMPRISING: A BOTTOM HOPPER MEANS; AN INTERMEDIATE UPSTANDING FRAMEWORK MEANS POSITIONED ABOVE AND EFFECTIVELY COUPLED WITH RESPECT TO SAID BOTTOM HOPPER MEANS AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM TO A PREDETERMINED EXTENT, SAID UPSTANDING FRAMEWORK MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF UPSTANDING, SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR, PARALLEL SPACED CORNER POST MEMBERS, EACH HAVING A BOTTOM END AND A TOP END, EACH OF SAID CORNER POST MEMBERS BEING PROVIDED WITH TWO ANGULARLY RELATED RECEIVING CHANNEL PORTIONS FACING THE CORRESPONDING RECEIVING CHANNEL PORTION OF THE NEXT LATERALLY SPACEDLY ADJACENT CORNER POST MEMBER AND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL THERETO; AND A PLURALITY OF SIDE PANEL MEMBERS, EACH OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION AS SEEN IN FRONT ELEVATION, AND EACH HAVING VERTICALLY SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES AND HORIZONTALLY SPACED, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE EDGES ADAPTED TO BE EFFECTIVELY VERTICALLY SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN A CORRESPONDING AND DIFFERENT FACING PAIR OF SAID VERTICALLY DIRECTED RECEIVING CHANNEL PORTIONS OF THE CORRESPONDING LATERALLY SPACEDLY ADJACENT PAIR OF SAID CORNER POST MEMBERS IN CLOSING RELATIONSHIP ACROSS THE CORRESPONDING SIDE OF SAID FRAMEWORK MEANS AND CONTROLLABLY VERTICALLY SLIDABLY REMOVABLE THEREFROM WHEN DESIRED, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF SIDE PANEL MEMBERS HAVING AN EFFECTIVE VOLUME-EXPANDING, OUTWARDLY PROJECTING, INWARD-CAVITY-DEFINING INTERMEDIATE WALL PORTION INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO SAID TOP, BOTTOM, AND SIDE EDGES AND EFFECTIVELY DEFINING AN AUXILIARY VOLUME-ENLARGING CAVITY THEREWITHIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE HOLLOW INTERIOR OF THE MERCHANDISE RECEPTACLE AND EFFECTIVELY COMPRISING A SIDEPOSITIONED VOLUME-INCREASING PORTION THEREOF. 